Chassis of vehicles



Jan. 18, 1938 K, SCHROTER ET AL 2,105,553

CHASS IS OF VEHICLES Filed Dec. 9; 1936 M 3M Hm 0.3M

lrr ven tors Patented Jen. is, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHASSIS F VEHICLES Kurt Schriiter and Hans 0. Schrfiter, Wcchmar,

Gotha-Land, German Application Dccember a, 1936, Serial No. 114,930 a December InGermany 11 claim.- (or. zen-104) rail which forms a part of the body supporting frame and supports theframe superstructure and which connects thetwo axle assemblies.

2o The body supporting frame always takes up a middle position when the axle assemblies are locked in relation to one another, and it is thereby possible to overcome the greatest obstacles in open country with relatively'small upward swinging of the wheelsin relation to. the body supporting frame, without the wheels encountering the body supporting frame and without altering the wheel pressure of the individual wheels.

by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Figures 1, 2, and 3 are, respectively, a side elevation, a planand-a front elevation of the chassis. L The frame I- is supported, through the intermediary *of struts l3, on a central tubular supporting rail 2,'forming a unit hereinafter referred to as the body supporting frame. The front axle assembly 3 and the rear axle assembly 4 are rockably mounted on the rail 2. The front axle II and by small links 32 to the axle body 3a, and steering knuckles I4 swiveled on the yokes 33 and provided with axles Ma for the front wheels I8. Each steering knuckle yoke 33 is. supported against an overhang 3b 'of the axle body 3a by a spiral spring 5.

The rear axle frame comprises a tubular axle la provided with longitudinal struts 4| connected by a cross brace 42. The axle 4a is connected to a. tubular sleeve l2 by struts'43, 44. In the axle 41: are mounted at each side crank shaped axle shafts 43 for the wheels l9. Tension rods 41 are springs 6, the opposite ends of which abut on lugs 49 of the longitudinal struts I, so that the 5 springs are compressed when the wheels I9 swing upward. Each of the four wheels I8 and I9 is therefore independently swung. A pin I is secured to the tubular supporting rail 2 and forms a pivot for a two-armed lever 8. The front axle 10 assembly 3 and rear axle assembly 4 are connected to the lever B by the respective ball-joint pins 9 and Ill. The sleeve II of the front axle assembly and the sleeve I2 of the'rear axle M- -sembly areslid onto the tubular supporting rail 2 before the front and rear struts I3 are attached to it. for example by screwing, so that the rail 2 is supported on the axle assemblies. The sleeves I I and I2 are lined or coated at the bearing positions with a layer of fibre, asbestos 00 or the like which is inserted so. as to hecapable between the tubular supporting rail 2 and the sleeves II and I2 is thereby prevented and all noises are damped. Tightening of the sleeves I I and I2 on the rail 2 enables a damping action to be effected by the fibre or intermediate layer so that if play occurs at the joint pins 9 and ID, or at the pivot pin 1, quiet working of the body supporting frame I, 2, I3 is still ensured. The tight- 3 ening of the sleeves I I and I2 can be efiected by slitting them at the ends at 20, and clamping them more or less tightly by screws or the like in the manner of hand-cuffs. When travelling over obstacles, the front axle assembly 3 is rocked relatively to the rear axle assembly 4 or vice versa, as is indicated in Figure 3 by dot and dash lines, so that non-uniform spring or wheel loads would ordina arise. The compensating member 8 which is provided 40 between the axle assemblies 3 and 4, however, ensures that all the wheels I8 and iii are always Y subjected to equal wheel pressures, and that the tubular supporting rail 2 and the' supersia-ucture I fixed thereon are held in a central position in relation to both assemblies 3 and I.

The steering knuckles I4 provide for turning movements of the front wheels l8 about a vertical axis. A linkage IS, IS between each steering knuckle I4 and a pole I'I enables the direction of the front wheels to be controlled.

Instead of employing the described compensatlng means between the two axle assemblies, other stead of a single lever 8 connecting the assemblies of the vehicle, several levers may be used.

We claim:--

1. In a vehicle chassis, a body supporting framecomprising a central longitudinal rail, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each rockably mounted on said rail, and means connecting said axle assemblies with each other and with said frame in such a way that relative rocking of said axle assemblies positively moves said frame to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies.

2. In a vehicle chassis, a body supporting frame comprising a central longitudinal rail, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each roekably mounted on said rail, and a non-yielding lever system connecting said axle assemblies with I each other and with said frame in such a way that relative rocking of said axle assemblies positively moves said frame to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies.

3. In a vehicle chassis, a* body supporting frame comprising a centrallongitudinal rail, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each rockably mounted on said rail, and a single lever connected at its two ends. to the respective axle assemblies and at its middle to said frame, whereby relative rocking of said axle assemblies brings said frame to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies. Q

4. In a vehicle chassis, a body supporting frame comprising a central longitudinal tubular rail, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each comprising a tubular sleeve adapted to mount the assembly rockably on said rail, and

men-yielding means connecting said sleeves together and to said tubular rail in such a way that relative rocking of said axle assemblies turns said tubular rail to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies.

,5. In a vehicle chassis, a body supporting frame comprising a central longitudinal tubuframe comprising a central lar rail, a front axle assembly each comprising a tubular-sleeve adapted to mount the assembly rockably on said rail, a lever and pins on said sleeves and said rail pivoted to said lever in such a way that relative rocking of said axle assemblies turns said tubular rail to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies. I Y

6. In a, vehicle chassis, a body supporting longitudinal tubular rail, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each comprising a tubular sleeve adapted to mount the assembly rockably on said rall, a lever,

' pins on said sleeves, ball and socket connections between said pins and the ends of said lever, and means connecting said tubular rail to said lever in such away that relative rocking of said axle assemblies turns said tubular rail to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies.

'1. In a vehicle chassis, a body supporting rail to a position intermediate that assemblies.

assembly and'a rear axle frame comprising a central longitudinal tubular and equalizing means connecting said sleeves" to eachotherandtosaid tubularrailinsuchaway that relative rocking of said axle assunhlies turns said tubular rail to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies.

8. In a vehicle chassis. a body supporting frame comprising acentral longitudinal tubular rail, a front axle assembly sembly each comprising a tubular sleeve adapted to mount the assembly rockahly on said rail, bushings composed of fibrous material between said tubular rail and. said sleeves. and equalizin means connecting said-sleeves to each other and to said tubular rail in such a waythat relaflve rocking ofsaid axle assembliesturnssaidtuhular rail to a position assemblies. I

alnavehicl chassiaabodysupportlne frame comprising a central longitudinal tubular rail, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each comprising a tubular sleeve adapted to mount the assembly rockably on said rail, means for regulatingthebearingpressureofsaid sleeves upon saidtubular rail, and equalizing means connecting said sleeves to each other and to said tubular railin suchaway-that relative rocking of said axle assembliesturmsaidtubular l0. Ina. vehicle chassis, a body supporthl frame comprising a central longitudinal tut-lunar rail, 9. front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly each comprlslnga tubular sleeve adapted to mount the assembly rockably on said rail. equalizing means connecting said sleeves to'each other and to said tubular rail in such a way that relative rocking of said axle assemblies turns said tubular rail to a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies, and ground wheels inde-r pendently spring mounted on said axleassemblies. 7

11. In a vehicle chassis. a body supporting frame comprising a central longitudinal tubular rail; a front axle assembly. and a rear axle assembly each comprising a tubular sleeve to mount the assembly rockably on said rail. equalizing means connecting said sleeves to each other and to saidtubular rail in such a way that relative rocking of said axle assemblies turns said tubular railto a position intermediate that of said axle assemblies, said front axle assemblies comprising spring mounted steering knuckles,

a pole, and a linkage connectingsaid pole with said steering knuckles. 3

BAKED.

andarearaxleas intermediate that 0! said axle ofsaidaxle 

